FirstBank’s board elected Kevin Classen CEO to replace Jim Reuter, who will retire from the bank after seven years as CEO and 37 years with the organization overall. In addition, FirstBank’s board named Kelly Kaminskas chief operating officer. Classen and Kaminskas will assume their new roles on March 29.
Reuter, who will remain on the company’s board, started his career at FirstBank in 1987 and held several leadership positions, including COO and executive vice president, before being appointed CEO in 2017.
“It’s been a pleasure to be CEO of FirstBank and an active leader in the community, banking and fintech industry,” Reuter said. “Since I became CEO in 2017, I’ve always said this was a role I would do for five to seven years before giving the opportunity to the next generation of leaders. My proudest accomplishment has been building this team. Now it’s their time to shine. I know with Kevin Classen and Kelly Kaminskas at the helm, FirstBank will continue to be a top-performing institution. As for me, I’m looking forward to pursuing other interests and taking on new challenges.”
“FirstBank is a stronger organization thanks to Jim’s contributions,” John Ikard, FirstBank’s chairman of the board, said. “He was instrumental in the bank’s diversity initiatives, IT innovations, and successfully steered this company through multiple industry and economic challenges, including a global pandemic. While we’re sad to see him step down, we’re confident the incoming CEO and COO will continue to take FirstBank in the right direction and uphold its values of doing what’s right for customers, communities and employees.”
Classen, who has been with FirstBank since 1998, previously served in leadership roles in markets across Colorado and helped lead FirstBank’s expansion into Arizona in 2007. He was president of FirstBank’s Boulder, CO, market prior to being elected president of FirstBank in 2020.
“I’m honored to be named CEO and to continue to build on FirstBank’s 60-plus years of success,” Classen said. “I owe a great deal to Jim for creating a company foundation and a culture that truly prioritizes its mission. I’m also grateful to have several tenacious, perceptive and brilliant leaders by my side like Kelly Kaminskas, who are integral to the growth of this company.”
Kaminskas started her career at FirstBank 20 years ago. She served as President of retail and digital banking before being promoted to chief digital officer in 2022. As the newly elected COO, Kelly will lead the company’s treasury management, marketing, technology and retail operations.
